New Video, New Europe

A Survey of Eastern European Video January 11 – February 22, 2004

Piotr Wryzykowski(Poland)On the Road to Chisinau, 20015'

On the Road to Chisinau documents a brief incident on a road trip in Moldava. Wryzkowski and a colleague take a mototcycle excursion as it had been offered by a local resident proud of his sidecar. A couple of hours outside of town, the bike overheated and caught on fire. Filmed from a safe distance, the details make this a tragi-comedy--the owners futile attempts at extinguishing the flames; his bewilderment; and finally an existential resignation as he lights a cigarette while the windshield slowly melts. Off camera, Wryzkowski and colleague whisper fears of the bike exploding. They do not fear injury as much as what the authorities might think given that they are less than a hundred yards from the local prison. Fortunately, their lives do not turn into an action movie. Jump cut to the epilogue where they have been rescued, continuing their journey to a happy soundtrack.

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